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JKNPP protest over unprecedented

Launching a scathing attack on the state government for its gross failure in providing relief to the people of Jammu region from the ongoing power crisis, scores of Panther Party activists spearheaded by Mr. Harsh Dev Singh Chairman JKNPP and Yashpal Kundal State President Young Panthers staged a massive protest demonstration against the unprecedented power cuts and huge voltage fluctuations in the entire region at Exhibition Ground on Tuesday.
Harsh Dev Singh while addressing the media regretted that the acute power crisis has not only made the life of a common man miserable in the towns and cities but also in the hinterland and remote areas during the ongoing summer season. He warned the Power Development Department be prepared to face massive public outrage in case the regular and un-interrupted power supply was not restored at the earliest. Expressing resentment over the deprivation of a basic civic amenity like power, Harsh said that an insouciant and unconcerned attitude of the PDD has made the people of Jammu to suffer the worst hardships due to scorching heat and soaring humidity with no respite from scheduled and unscheduled power cuts. He added that the aged, ailing and student fraternity in particular were the worst sufferers particularly those preparing for the various examinations and regretted that despite of persistent appeals to the government to comply with the scheduled calendar on power supply and the repeated assurances of the State government, no action had been taken by the latter thus making the people’s life a living hell.
While seeking the accountability of the Coalition government, Harsh Dev Singh questioned the Power Minister regarding the fate of 150 MMT dedicated coal mine which was promised to be allotted to J&K in the “Agenda of Alliance” for establishing a thermal plant. He further sought a response from the State and the Central Govt. in respect of the assurance given by Union Power Minister for provision of an additional 440 KV Transmission Line from Jalandhar to Jammu as an alternate Northern Grid connectivity. Accusing the Saffron leaders for their policy of deceit, duplicity and betrayal, he warned them not to take the people of Jammu for granted otherwise the public anguish already having reached its crescendo would erase the BJP’s political existence.
Yash Paul Kundal while flaying the unpleasant scope of discrimination extending on Jammu region in the power sector as well, said that it had been a major sufferer with the BJP partnered government and its ministers including the Dy. Chief Minister Dr. Nirmal Singh who was also holding the portfolio of Power Development were enjoying the cool breeze of Kashmir in the face of an adversity faced by the people of Jammu region.
He further pointed out that the power supply to Jammu region had been further curtailed during the ongoing summers due to the highly prejudicial and callous approach of those sitting at the helm of the affairs. He reckoned that the people of Jammu who were reeling under severe power crisis would strongly oppose the discriminatory treatment doled out to them and soon blow the fuse of the “power hungry” BJP in the days to come. Cautioning the Deputy Chief Minister to ensure un-interrupted power supply in Jammu, he advised him to learn a lesson from the governments of many other States which had set an example by effecting a drastic reduction in power tariff besides ensuring a regular power supply.
Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion included Rajesh Padgotra, Gagan Partap, Sham Gorkha, Naresh Chib, Nirmal Kishore, Shankar Singh, Neeraj Gupta, Rakesh Gupta, Ajeet Sharma, Arun Kumar, Sanju, Sanjeev Verma, Sr. N.P. Singh, Adeep Kumar, Aditya Hans, Udhay Veer and others.